Contractor accreditation
and SSIP support

Accreditation support to help you win the big jobs

For many businesses, accreditations are no longer a nice-to-have. They’re a requirement.

Whether you’re tendering for contracts, joining approved supplier lists or working with larger organisations, health and safety accreditations are often used to demonstrate competence, compliance and professionalism.

At AfterAthena, we help businesses achieve, maintain and renew contractor accreditations by supporting the application process, gathering evidence and ensuring systems and documentation meet the required standards.

From CHAS and SMAS to SafeContractor and other industry schemes, we provide practical support designed to make accreditation more straightforward and less time-consuming.

Why accreditations matter

Many clients won’t consider a contractor or supplier without evidence of recognised accreditations.

For businesses operating within construction, facilities management, engineering, manufacturing and other contractor-led industries, accreditation can help:

Access new commercial opportunities
Strengthen tender submissions
Demonstrate competence and credibility
Meet supply chain requirements
Improve competitive positioning
Gain access to larger contracts and frameworks

In many cases, accreditation acts as a first-stage filter during procurement. Having the right credentials can help your business get a foot in the door.

What is SSIP?

SSIP (Safety Schemes in Procurement) is an umbrella framework that brings together a number of recognised health and safety assessment schemes.

The aim is to reduce duplication and simplify pre-qualification assessments for buyers and contractors.

Many of the UK’s most recognised contractor accreditation schemes operate within the SSIP framework, including:

CHAS
SMAS
SafeContractor
Acclaim
Constructionline Health & Safety
Other recognised assessment schemes

Achieving an SSIP-recognised accreditation can help demonstrate that your organisation meets recognised health and safety standards.

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Holistic accreditation support

Accreditation applications often require substantial evidence and supporting documentation.

This may include information relating to:

Health and safety policies
Risk assessments
Training records
Incident management procedures
Competent person arrangements
HR policies and procedures
Environmental and sustainability information
ESG commitments
Insurance documentation
Contractor management processes

We help businesses understand requirements, identify gaps and ensure submissions are supported by appropriate evidence.

Accreditation portal management

Many schemes operate through dedicated online portals that require regular updates and ongoing administration.

We can assist with:

Initial applications
Evidence gathering
Document uploads
Responding to accreditation queries
Renewal submissions
Ongoing maintenance

This helps reduce the administrative burden whilst ensuring accreditation requirements continue to be met.

a user types into a keyboard with a holographic display showing a portal login.

Your "competent person"

Many accreditation schemes require organisations to demonstrate access to competent health and safety advice.

As part of our support, AfterAthena can act as your appointed competent person, providing access to experienced health and safety professionals where required.

For some organisations, this forms part of a wider retained support package. For others, it can support specific accreditation requirements and renewal processes.

Having access to a competent person can strengthen accreditation applications whilst providing ongoing support and reassurance.

More than a badge

Accreditation is not simply about obtaining approval.

Strong accreditation submissions are built on effective systems, robust documentation and good operational practices.

That’s why our approach focuses not only on helping businesses achieve accreditation but also on creating processes that support long-term compliance, continual improvement and future renewal success.

Portrait of tradesman standing arms crossed by his van on a housing estate.

Common accreditations we support

CHAS

One of the UK’s best-known contractor accreditation schemes, often required within construction and facilities management supply chains.

SMAS

A recognised SSIP member scheme helping contractors demonstrate health and safety competence.

SafeContractor

Widely recognised across multiple industries and commonly requested by larger organisations and procurement teams.

Constructionline

Helping businesses demonstrate capability, compliance and supplier credentials to buyers and procurement teams.

Other Industry Schemes

We can also support a range of sector-specific accreditation and supplier approval frameworks.

Get a tailored quote

Ways of working with AfterAthena's health and safety

Retained service plan

An annual or multi-annual commitment to you with ongoing support and regular services delivered

Project-based

A wider project spanning a few services

One off ad-hoc

A single service based on a specific need

Ongoing support and retained services

Many clients choose an ongoing relationship because accreditation requirements continue long after the certificate has been issued.

We can provide support with:

Annual renewals
Accreditation reviews
Documentation updates
Internal audits
Competent person services
New accreditation applications
Additional SSIP schemes

As your business grows, we can help ensure your accreditations continue to support commercial opportunities and procurement requirements.

Why choose AfterAthena?

Practical accreditation support
Experience with major accreditation schemes
Assistance with evidence gathering and submission
Competent person services
Support with health and safety, HR and ESG requirements
Application and renewal support
Portal administration assistance
Ongoing retained consultancy options

Our goal is not simply to help you secure accreditation. We help create the systems, documentation and support structure needed to maintain standards and take advantage of future commercial opportunities.

Get a tailored quote

Technology-enabled support through the AfterAthena Hub

AfterAthena Hub is available as a paid app or offered free of charge to all retainer clients. The app provides practical resources to help support effective workforce management.

The Hub includes:

Employment law resources
Policy guidance
Template libraries
Legal updates
Practical HR support materials
Automated legally sound policy generation
Access to specialist support

Combined with advice from our employment law specialists, these resources help employers manage documentation more efficiently and confidently.

What our clients say

"We have used AfterAthena for some time and would highly recommend them. Extremely thankful to [the team] supporting our Company with any HR or Health and Safety issues. Reacting quickly with their expert advice and guidance throughout the whole process. Definitely going above and behond!"

Jeanette Corner, Managing Director, Mike England Timber

Get in touch

FAQs

What is contractor accreditation?

Contractor accreditation helps organisations demonstrate competence, compliance and good business practices. It is often required when tendering for work or joining approved supplier lists.

What is SSIP?

SSIP stands for Safety Schemes in Procurement. It is an umbrella framework that recognises a number of contractor assessment schemes and helps reduce duplication during procurement processes.

Which accreditations can AfterAthena help with?

We commonly support organisations with CHAS, SMAS, SafeContractor, Constructionline and other accreditation schemes depending on industry requirements.

What documentation is usually required for accreditation?

Requirements vary by scheme but often include health and safety policies, risk assessments, training records, insurance documents, HR policies and evidence of management processes.

Can you help upload evidence to accreditation portals?

Yes. We can assist with gathering documentation, managing submissions, uploading evidence and responding to requests from accreditation providers.

Can AfterAthena act as our competent person?

Yes. Many clients appoint AfterAthena as their competent person to help meet accreditation requirements and provide access to professional health and safety advice.

Will accreditation help us win more work?

Many tenders, procurement frameworks and larger organisations require accreditations as part of their supplier selection process, making them an important commercial advantage.

Do accreditations need to be renewed?

Yes. Most accreditation schemes require periodic renewal and updated evidence to demonstrate that standards continue to be maintained.

Can you help businesses that are applying for accreditation for the first time?

Yes. We regularly support organisations that are new to contractor accreditation by helping them understand requirements, prepare documentation and manage submissions.

Do I need a retainer to receive accreditation support?

No. Accreditation support can be provided on a project basis, although many organisations choose ongoing support to help maintain accreditations and manage future renewals.

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